Several road projects that would add both functionality and aesthetics to Russellville city streets are either underway or in the works.

Michael Oakes, city engineer and Department of Public Works director, outlined four street improvement projects that will be completed by summer 2014. Two of these will create what Oakes called “complete streets.”

“The term ‘complete streets’ refers to building streets that are designed for all modes of transportation — all potential users — as opposed to just designing our streets for autos, as we have been doing for many years,” Oakes said.

The first complete street project will start at East H Street and North Arkansas Avenue. The improvements will follow H Street to North Parker Road and then follow Parker Road north until its culmination at East O Street.

Elements of the project will include two 10-foot traffic lanes, bike lanes, sidewalks with a median between the walkway and the street, redbud trees and period lighting. Oakes said improvements along East H Street and North Parker Road will give continuity to the area.

“There are about five or six different sections, or widths, as you go along,” he said. “Curbs, no curbs, certain widths between the curbs. The street is obviously the result of many years of different developments going in and putting in whatever they were able to get approval to put in.”

Oakes said construction should begin in 30-45 days. Another complete street will be along North El Paso Avenue, stretching from Parkway Drive to the Arkansas Tech University campus.

Though El Paso Avenue has its own design, the concept is similar to the H Street and Parker Road project, with vehicle travel lanes, bike lanes, trees, sidewalks and period lighting.

“It’s going to be one cool street,” Oakes said.

Work along North El Paso Avenue is anticipated to begin construction in about 60 days. Already underway is work to install an overpass spanning the Union Pacific Railroad on North Phoenix Avenue.

“The activities up to this point in time have been the relocation of utilities — gas, water, electric,” Oakes said. “Electric is still pending, but we’re still starting. As of (Wednesday), the contractor actually began work on the project.”

Similar to the complete street projects, the overpass will have two travel lanes, bike lanes, sidewalks and lighting. Oakes said the lighting will be extended along North Phoenix Avenue from Parkway Drive to Main Street.

He said the bridge itself will be architecturally enhanced with the “iconic art-deco design of the zephyr train.” The parapet walls along the bridge will have a stainless steel “nose” on each end that will mimic the look of a zephyr, with ridges along the walls to suggest the continuation of the train.

The sides of the bridge will be mechanically stabilized earth, rather than a sloping side, due to space constraints. Oakes said the sides will have a red brick facade which will tie in with the brick buildings downtown.

Each of these improvements is expected to be complete by next summer, and combined with the downtown bulbout project along West Main Street will contribute to the character of the city, Oakes said.

He added that capital road projects such as these are paid for with proceeds from the city’s one-cent sales tax. Public Works’ operational budget is funded by turnback funds from the state gasoline tax. Those funds pay for general road maintenance throughout the city, but can’t cover larger projects such as complete streets.